Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fiction’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Fiction’, characterized by its large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.4 cm; attractive purple and white bi-colored ray florets; very freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per stem; response time about 54 days; dark green foliage; strong stems; and excellent postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaining good substance and color for more than four weeks in an interior environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Fiction’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Salinas, Calif. and Alva, Fla. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new cut Chrysanthemumcultivars having inflorescences with desirable colors and good form andsubstance.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross made by the Inventor inJuly, 1995, in Salinas, Calif., of a proprietary Chrysanthemum seedlingselection identified as code number D050, not patented, as the female,or seed, parent with a proprietary Chrysanthemum seedling selectionidentified as D497, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.

The cultivar Fiction was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Alva, Fla., in November, 1996. The selection of thisplant was based on its desirable inflorescence colors and good form andsubstance.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings takenin a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., has shown that theunique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Fiction has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Fiction’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Fiction’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large daisy-type inflorescences that are about 7.4 cm in diameter.

2. Attractive purple and white bi-colored ray florets.

3. Very freely flowering with numerous inflorescences per stem.

4. Response time about 54 days.

5. Dark green foliage.

6. Thick and strong stems.

7. Excellent postproduction longevity with inflorescences maintaininggood substance and color for more than four weeks in an interiorenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘Fiction’ grown as a spray-type cutChrysanthemum.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of ‘Fiction’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Salinas, Calf., underconditions which approximate commercial practice in a double-layerpolyethyene-covered greenhouse. Two-week old rooted cuttings wereplanted on Feb. 10, 2000 and received 18 long day/short nights followedby short day/long nights until flowering. Plants were grown assingle-stem cut chrysanthemums. During the production time, thefollowing environmental conditions were measured: day temperatures, 18to 27° C.; night temperatures, 16 to 18° C.; and light levels, 2,000 to4,000 foot-candles. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesfor six to ten typical flowering stems and were taken during the week ofApr. 30, 2000.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Fiction.

Commercial classification: Daisy spray-type cut Chrysanthemum.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedlingselection identified as code number D050, not patented.

Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium seedlingselection identified as code number D497, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.—Seven to ten days with soil temperatures of 21° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Herbaceous daisy spray-type cut flower.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect Length: About 96.5 cm. Spraywidth: About 20.5 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm. Internode length: About 4.5cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 9.8 cm.Width: About 7.1 cm. Apex: Cuspidate to mucronate. Base: Mostlytruncate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses mostly convergent andoverlapping. Texture: Upper and lower surfaces pubescent; veinsprominent on lower surface. Color: Young foliage upper surface: Muchdarker than 147A. Young foliage lower surface: Close to 147A. Maturefoliage upper surface: Darker than 147A; venation, close to 147A to147B. Mature foliage lower surface: Darker than 147B; venation, close to147B. Petiole: Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color: Closeto 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.—Daisy spray-type inflorescence form with elongatedoblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arisingfrom leaf axils. Disc and ray florets arranged acropetally on acapitulum.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flowers in theautumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two or three weeks of long day/short night conditions afterplanting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditionsflower about 54 days later.

Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, flowering stemswill maintain good color and substance for more than four weeks in aninterior environment after one week of cool storage.

Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering with about 15inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.4 cm. Depth (height): About 1.4cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.8 cm. Diameter of receptacle: About 6.5mm.

Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About1.1 cm. Apex: Rounded, mammilate or emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:Entire. Texture: Satiny, smooth, glabrous; longitudinally ridged.Apspect: Concave. Aspect: Initially upright; when mature, about 80 to85° from vertical. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 28arranged in about two rows. Color: When opening and mature, uppersurface: Apex, purple, 71A; midsection, alternating longitudinal purpleand white streaks, 71A and 155D, respectfully; base, white, 155D. Purplecolor fading to 72A and white coloration becoming more dominant withsubsequent development. When opening and mature, lower surface: Apex,purplish, 155D ground color underlain with close to 82A; midsection,alternating longitudinal purple and white streaks, 155D and faint 82A,respectfully; base, white, 155D.

Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; slightly flared at apex. Length: About 6mm. Width: Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc floretsper inflorescence: Numerous, about 178. Color: Immature: 144A. Mature:Apex: 7A. Mid-section: 144A. Base: 155D.

Peduncle.—Aspect: Strong, angled about 50 to 55° from vertical. Length:First peduncle: About 5.3 cm. Fourth peduncle: About 10.2 cm. Seventhpeduncle: About 15.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.75 mm. Texture: Very finepubescence. Color: 144A.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 13A. Amount of pollen: None observed to date. Gynoecium: Presenton both ray and disc florets.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Chrysanthemums hasnot been observed on plants grown under commercial conditions.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have demonstratedgood tolerance to night temperatures as low as 5° C. and daytemperatures lower than 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘Fiction’, as illustrated and described.